Gabriel Martinelli struck in the 95th minute to send Brazil into the last 16 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan in Houston on 29 June, completing a remarkable second-half comeback after Carlo Ancelotti’s side had been comprehensively outplayed in the first half.
Kaishu Sano gave Japan a deserved lead in the 29th minute, intercepting a loose Danilo pass before skipping past a stationary Casemiro and drilling a low shot into the bottom-left corner past Alisson. It was the first goal Brazil had conceded since Morocco scored in their tournament opener. Casemiro atoned for his first-half struggles by powering a header home from a Gabriel Magalhaes cross in the 56th minute, before Martinelli sealed it when Ao Tanaka was robbed on the edge of Japan’s box, Guimaraes slipped the Arsenal forward through, and his finish clipped in off the right-hand post with Suzuki unable to keep it out.
Japan executed their game plan brilliantly in the opening 45 minutes, sitting in a disciplined 5-4-1 and pressing with relentless energy. Vinicius Junior was doubled up by Ritsu Doan and Takehiro Tomiyasu every time he received the ball, while Casemiro picked up a yellow card for a needless foul before being bypassed with embarrassing ease for Sano’s opener. Sano ranked third in the Bundesliga for distance covered last season, and his willingness to run at a sluggish Casemiro proved the decisive moment of the half.
Brazil failed to register a first-half shot on target from inside the box for the first time in a World Cup match since their quarter-final defeat to Belgium in 2018. Their record when conceding first made grim reading: this was only their second win in nine World Cup matches in which they trailed, with the previous five ending in defeat, including the 7-1 semi-final humiliation against Germany in 2014. Their last comeback victory before this had been the 2014 opener against Croatia, a 3-1 win over 12 years ago.
Ancelotti acted decisively at half-time, introducing Endrick for the injured Lucas Paqueta and effectively shifting Brazil into a 4-2-4. The move stretched Japan’s press and created more space in wide areas. Brazil flew out of the blocks, with Guimaraes forcing a fine save from Suzuki with a close-range header before Casemiro’s effort was somehow kept out on the line by Tomiyasu.
Casemiro was not to be denied for long. He is the Premier League’s most prolific headed goalscorer, netting eight in 2025-26 for Manchester United, and he powered home from Gabriel Magalhaes’ delivery at the back post. At 34 years and 126 days, he became Brazil’s second-oldest World Cup scorer, behind only Bebeto, who was 34 years and 137 days when he scored against Denmark in 1998.
Two minutes later, Vinicius nutmegged Tomiyasu, turned Sano inside out and poked a shot that Suzuki tipped onto the post in what was one of the saves of the tournament. The Japan goalkeeper, born in New Jersey to a Ghanaian father and Japanese mother, was outstanding throughout but could not deny Martinelli at the death.
Martinelli’s positioning was crucial. Ancelotti deployed him centrally rather than wide, and the 25-year-old was perfectly placed to receive Guimaraes’ pass and finish. The Newcastle midfielder now has four assists at this tournament, the most of any player, with only Pele having provided more for Brazil in a single World Cup edition, with six in 1970.
Japan, meanwhile, extend their unwanted record of playing the most knockout stage games in World Cup history without ever progressing, now five appearances without a single victory.
Brazil will face either Ivory Coast or Norway at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 6 July.
